The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1887-03-26
NEWS NOTES FROM WASHINGTON.

1t is said that the Governments surplus now
on hand amounts to $21, 100000.
"A new aqueduct bridge is to be built
the Potomac at Washington, at q cost of $50, 905.
-Trotter, the new Recorder of Deeds for the
District of Columbia, has heen very ill for week
past
-Ex- Congressman Benton j. Hall, of Iowa, will
succeed Mr.. Montgomery as Commissioner of
Patents.
AT the end of last week there were on file at
the Pension Office, 296,2S6 claims for pensions
which had not been examined, and the claims con-
tinue to come in ut the rate of eboUt 500 per day
On his fiftieth birthday-Friday, March 18th
the President held large public reooption and
the congratulations were hume, III. md ONE of
them amusing. One young eir odd i'm that
she hoped he would live to celobraga t..ouSand
more.
The Acting Secretary of the Treasury has
issued another call for $40 000,0 900 of the three
per cent. bonds, loan of 1882, and notice is given
that principal and accrued interest will be paid
the LIST day of May, 1887 after which date interest
will cease.
The President appointed the Inter- State
Commerce Commission on Tuesday. 1t is CON-
posed of five men and there were about q thous-
and applicants. The salary of each Commissioner
| is 81, 500 year-an office that would not likely
60 begging.
Secretary Whitney receives great many
letters asking for his autograph, and being an
obliging gentleman he always complies. He re-
ceives more requests of this kind than any other
member of the Cabinet. The writers also fire.
quently ask for Mrs. Whitney's autograph.
Senator Sawyer, of Wisconsin, one of the
wealthiest members of the Senate, has purchased
1891 feet of ground on Connecticut avenue and
Twentieth street, upon which he will commence
the erection of handsome residence. The lot,
for which he paid $4,000, is triangle at the in
tersecton of the streets named.
n - e
Maryland, that he is among the very few mem
bers of Congress who has never accepted rail-
road pass or q book of telegraph franks. By this
course he has been able to maintain his indepen-
dence and will continue to do so as long as he
mains in Congress.
"A New York farmer having seen in the news
| papers that the Government had more silver than
it could take of, has written to the Treasury
| Department that he's in great need of some ready
money and could make good use of about $1,000,
which would do him for the present, but in case
| he wanted more he promised to let the depart
| ment know.
1t is said that o number of men who finished
their Congressional with the last Con gress
| are now hanging around Washington and pester-
ing the President for places for themselves Some
of them are willing to take anything and one even
sought messengers place and didn't get it, They
| are, as rule, short of cash, and begin
ming to look seedy.
"A prominent Kentuckian says that the Presi-
dent is anxious to have Speaker Carlisle accept
the Secretaryship of the Treasury, but he says
that gentleman IL in no condition pecuniarily to
shoulder the expenses of the social life which a
Cabinet position involves. If all the members of
| the Cabinet were like Attorney General Garland
they could pull along very well on SS,000 year.
Mr.. James Laurenson, the oldest clerk in the
Postofice Department, celebrated his S4th birth
day on Tuesday. He is native of Baltimore and
witnessed the bombardment Of Fort McHenry by
the British. He was appointed in the depart
ment during Gen. Jackson's administration and
| has been there ever since. Mr.. Mari, another
clerk in the same department, is upwards of so
years of age
The Civil Service Commission makes the
charge that large number of men have lately
secured positions in the departments who got in
through the back door-that is without taking the
| civil service examinaticn-and they propose to
put a stop to it by ordering that clerks who Sc
cured their positions in this way shall not be paid.
| The Commission says that the developments it
will make will not be creditabe to those engaged
| in this business.
An employee of the White House says that
nearly every day several men make their appear
ance at the Executive Mansion to watch for the
| cigar stumps that are thrown away by prominent
gentlemen who go there on business, and who are
known to always smoke good cigars, some of
which are tossed away after having been drawn
only three or four times. The men who pick these
up 60 off putting them and apparently enjoying
their smoke more than the original purchaser of
the weed did,
President Cleveland's sedentary habits and
his growing obesity giving his friends no little
concern. prominent physician of Washington
says the President "worbs with his head, eats
enormously and fails to exercise his muscles his
blood vessels are weakened, and it is only a
question of time when, in moment of excitement,
be bursts blood vessel. At the rate he is now
living there is great danger that he will not live
throughout his term. Something should be done
to help him to realize his danger and take the
proper steps prevent the result which will surely
ensue If ne folls 20 take proper exercise"